Page 16 - The Compass - Volume 14 Issue 3

esidents of Jacksonville, Florida, Snyder Heating & Air Conditioning’s
R can’t help but notice this red- commitment to the city of
and-blue clad caped crusader all Jacksonville has become even
around town. He makes appearances greater. The ownership group
on TV, is splashed across countless recently launched their own charity,
service vans and trucks, and most Capes of Comfort. “We’re in over
notably is present at seemingly 500 homes a week. Our techs see
every charitable event imaginable. stuff all the time—people who need
This masked superhero is, of course, help beyond their air conditioning.
known as Snyderman. Maybe their roof is leaking. Maybe
Since 1992, Snyderman has they just need a good meal. We’re
been the mascot of Snyder Heating going to raise money to support
& Air Conditioning. “When we those less fortunate,” Ed said with
first started talking about having conviction. “This community has
a mascot, I thought it was a little given so much to us for so long. We
hokey.” Ed Miller, president of feel like it’s our responsibility to give
Snyder, said honestly. “Looking back back.”
27 years, I’m so glad we did it. It’s Snyder Heating & Air Conditioning
helped tremendously with branding. has been open for 45 years. “We
And people love it!” have customers who’ve been with
Managing Snyderman’s time has SNYDERMAN BRINGS A SMILE TO ANOTHER us for more than 30 years. We
become a demanding task, which CHILD IN JACKSONVILLE! have multiple generations who are
has fallen upon the shoulders of Vice customers of ours,” Ed said. The
President of Public Relations Michelle Snyder Kilday. “He company hasn’t grown to more than $16 million in sales at
has a full schedule,” she said. “He does a lot of parties.” a strong profitability because of a mascot or its community
Children, in particular, are attracted to Snyderman—and efforts. The business has become one of the largest in
for good reason. Where he goes, he’s sure to have a bounty Jacksonville, if not the largest, thanks to a standard of
of red and blue superhero capes to distribute. excellence established by the company’s founders, and Scott
“It took us a while to find the right type of cape,” Vice and Michelle’s parents, Bob and Geral Snyder.
President Scott Snyder said and then burst into laughter.
“The first few versions you had to tie. We didn’t want kids Innovators in HVAC
hurting themselves if their friends started tugging on them. Bob Snyder started in the trades as a young man doing
We finally settled on one with Velcro. It’s been a hit.” refrigeration, mostly servicing Slurpee machines for
Ed, Michelle, Scott, and David Pickett make up the convenience stores like 7-Eleven. One of Bob’s customers
ownership team of Snyder today. Ask them about the took notice of his hustle and personality and suggested he
company, and it’s Snyderman and their charitable endeavors go into business for himself. If he did, the store owner said
they first mention. It’s also what they seem deeply passionate he would give Bob his business. And so, Snyder Heating &
about discussing. Air Conditioning was born in 1973.
“Lately, we’ve really focused on making our presence in Bob’s now late son BJ started in the business in 1981.
low-income areas where we can bring families some pizza, Scott joined a year later. Michelle waited until 2001. “It was
hand out the capes, and the kids can see our superhero,” BJ who introduced us to preventative maintenance,” Scott
Michelle said. “If we can put a smile on kids’ faces, and let shared. “BJ left for a while and went to work for another
them have some fun, that’s what life is all about.” company that showed him the opportunity in residential.
He brought the concept back to us in 1987. He wanted us
to try it. It grew from there.”
David, who serves as the vice president of operations, has
been with the company for 32 years. Ed has been at Snyder
30 years. Their friendship with Scott as kids paved their
way into the company. “Now, I consider them to be family,”
Scott insisted. As a family, they lifted Snyder Heating & Air
Conditioning to tremendous heights.
In those early days, these young men, along with Bob
and his team, hustled for business. They handed out flyers
at grocery stores, scrounging for leads. What money they
made, they invested in advertising. The Snyder’s were
among the first to sell maintenance contracts and were
innovators in telemarketing in the HVAC industry.
ALEX SAUNDERS, TIMOTHY WOOD, AND WOODY BUNCH
16 THE COMPASS | Issue 3 | 2019